Epipremnum plant named ‘UFM12’

ABSTRACT

A new  Epipremnum  plant particularly distinguished by having small variegated leaves with three different colors, irregularly undulated rather than smooth leaf surfaces, and compact and dense growth habit, is disclosed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support under FLA-APO-04158awarded by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and ExtensionService, USDA. The government has certain rights in the invention.

Genus and species: Epipremnum aureum.

Variety denomination: ‘UFM12’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Epipremnum plant,botanically known as Epipremnum aureum and hereinafter referred to bythe variety denomination of ‘UFM12’. ‘UFM12’ originated by exposingcuttings of Epipremnum aureum cultivar ‘Marble Queen’, not patented, togamma-ray radiation from a Colbalt 60 source at the Florida AcceleratorServices and Technology Division of Plant Industry; Florida Departmentof Agriculture and Consumer Services in Gainesville, Fla. Aftertreatment, the cuttings were grown in a controlled environment inApopka, Fla. The inventors selected the new Epipremnum approximately 1year later as a single branch mutation within the population of treatedplants.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tip cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Apopka, Fla. has shown that the unique features of thisnew Epipremnum are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for.‘UFM12’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior tothe filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘UFM12’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘UFM12’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘UFM12’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofEpipremnum:

-   -   1. Small variegated leaves with three different colors.    -   2. Leaf surfaces tend to be irregularly undulated rather than        smooth.    -   3. Compact and dense growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Epipremnum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall appearance. These photographs show thecolors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in coloredreproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which accurately describe the colors of the new Epipremnum.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of 3 typical plants of ‘UFM12’grown in a 12 cm diameter containers.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical vines and typical foliarvariegation of ‘UFM12’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘UFM12’ with color terminology in accordance with TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in containers in Apopka, Fla. during the spring and early summerin a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were grown using practices andunder conditions that approximate those generally used in commercialEpipremnum production. During the production of the plants, daytemperature ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperature rangedfrom a bout 18° C. to 26° C. and light levels were about 2,500foot-candles. Plants were grown from single stem cuttings and were about4 months old when the photographs and the detailed description weretaken.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Epipremnum aureum.        -   Common name.—Pothos.-   Parentage: Epipremnum aureum cultivar ‘Marble Queen’ (not patented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21–28 days at 25° C.            to 35° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 28–35 days at 15° C.            to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days            at 25° C. to 35° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at 15° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Medium thick, fleshy; typical of species.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Low growing, trailing, cascading. Plants            are full, compact and have dense foliage.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—10–12            cm.        -   Crop time.—From sticking 10 unrooted cuttings per container,            about 14 to 16 weeks are required to produce finished plants            in 10 cm containers.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 18 to 22 cm.        -   Stem description.—Length: About 20 to 25 cm. Diameter: About            3 to 4 mm. Internode length: About 3 to 5 cm. Texture:            smooth Branching: stems do not tend to branch. Color,            immature: 191B with faint stripes of 191C. Color, mature:            alternating bands of grayed-green (191A) and grayed-green            (191B) that yield a striped appearance.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaves.—Arrangement: alternate. Length: About 5 to 7 cm.            Width: About 3.5 to 5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate.            Base: Cordate. Aspect: Mostly undulate and horizontal.            Margin: Mostly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Undulate. Color immature expanding leaves upper surface:            variable; areas of 137A, 191A, and 155A/B. Lower surface:            the areas of 137A on upper surface appear lighter as 137C on            lower surface, while 191A and 155A/B appear as the same.            Color mature leaves upper surface: variable; areas of 137A,            191A, and 155A/B. Lower surface: the areas of 137A on upper            surface appear lighter as 137C on lower surface, while 191A            and 155A/B appear as the same.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm.            Color: 191 B/C. Strength: Strong; flexible. Wing length: 2.5            to 4.5 cm. Wing diameter, base: About 1 to 2 mm. Wing color            newer leaves, inner surface: 155A/B. Wing color newer            leaves, outer surface: 155A/B. Wing color mature leaves            (4^(th) to 5^(th) leaf down from tip): 200B/C.-   Root description: Fleshy, highly branched; 155D, typical of genus.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been    observed on plants of the new Epipremnum.-   Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Epipremnum has    not been observed on plants of the new Epipremnum.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVAR

‘UFM12’ differs from plants of the parent, the cultivar ‘Marble Queen’,in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘UFM12’ has leaves that are much smaller than the leaves of        the parent plant.    -   2. ‘UFM12’ has leaves that are different in shape compared to        leaves of the parent plant.    -   3. ‘UFM12’ has leaves that are not smooth compared with to the        leaves of the parent plant.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Epipremnum plant named ‘UFM12’ asshown and described herein.